Over the past 10 years, the rate of prescription drug abuse among teens has risen steadily. As reported in the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America revealed, “nearly one in five (4.5 million) admits to abusing medications not prescribed to him or her.”
Furthermore, as reported on NJ.com, according to the Federal Center for Disease Control, “60 percent of prescription abusers begin abusing pills before the age of 15.”
Top Six Warning Signs of Teen Prescription Addiction
-
Increase or decrease in sleep
-
Poor decision-making
-
Appears to be high, unusually energetic or revved up, or sedated
-
Missing medications
-
Sudden weight loss
-
Frequent injuries
What can parents do if some or all of these signs match your teen?
Parents should not be afraid to check their teen’s knapsacks/ backpacks or any other personal belonging that can reveal prescription drug use. The same goes for their teen’s computer. A spot check of your teen’s Social Media profiles like Facebook is also perfectly acceptable. This applies to emails as well.
If all else fails and your child has ventured down a dangerous path that appears to be irreversible, it may be time to start searching for Teen Prescription Drug Rehabs or if the situation is more serious a detox facility.
Contributor: Scott Brand
Scott Brand works in the outreach department of Inspirations for Youth, one the nation’s leading Teen Adolescent Addiction Treatment Centers. He spends his time talking to the teens about their inspirational stories of recovery.
Brand during a television news interview about teen drug and alcohol abuse
Sources
Conte, Annemarie. Prescription Pills: The New Drug of Choice for Teens. GoodHouseKeeping.com. Retrieved February 4, 2014, from http://www.goodhousekeeping.
Retrieved February 4, 2014, from http://www.foxnews.com/
-
Homeschooling A Child With Type 1 Diabetes
Today’s podcast is close to my heart because when my daughter was in kindergarten, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. ... -
Cleverly Cultured Kids on Transitioning Back to School
Episode 85 is a full show of hearing from our Cleverly Cultured kids . They chime in about their different perspectives ... -
Ending the School Year and Coping with School Shootings
2022 has been a difficult year for many families, people are still learning how to adjust to life during a pandemic; ...
-
Homeschooling A Child With Type 1 Diabetes
Today’s podcast is close to my heart because when my daughter was in kindergarten, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. ... -
Cleverly Cultured Kids on Transitioning Back to School
Episode 85 is a full show of hearing from our Cleverly Cultured kids . They chime in about their different perspectives ... -
Ending the School Year and Coping with School Shootings
2022 has been a difficult year for many families, people are still learning how to adjust to life during a pandemic; ...
-
USMed Supply Helped Me Sleep Better
Thank you US MED for sponsoring this post. Several years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Before diagnosis, ... -
US MED Makes Prescriptions Easy for Busy Parents
Thank you US MED for sponsoring this post. My husband and I met in college. We were young with our entire ... -
The Most Important Vitamins, Minerals And Supplements For Muscle Health And Growth
When looking to improve your strength and muscle size through rigorous exercise, it’s important to remember to get the right nutrients ...